City government is the most accessible level of government, and City Council makes decisions that most affect our daily lives – from garbage collection to bus service to policing to the provision of electricity, water, sewers, roads, parks, recreation centres and many social services. Virtually all land use decisions are made by City Council, including permission to build new houses, malls and big box stores. The City also employs over 6000 staff.

Hamilton collects half a billion dollars in taxes each year. These come from everyone who lives in Hamilton. Homeowners, business owners and others who own land in Hamilton pay property taxes directly to the City. People who rent also pay property taxes, but through their landlord. About 20% of the average rent goes to pay city taxes.

How City Hall Works

Hamilton has 15 city councillors plus the mayor. City Council meets twice per month, normally on the evening of the second and fourth Wednesdays. There are six standing committees of Council as well as a number of smaller special purpose committees, some of which have citizen members.

The standing committees each meet twice per month. The standing committees are composed of six to eight councillors each. This is where most of the real decision-making and almost all of the debate takes place. These committees make recommendations to Council, which makes the final decision. There is usually NO debate at the full Council meetings. The smaller special-purpose committees usually report to one of the standing committees. Meeting times are posted on the City’s website. Go to http://www.hamilton.ca/clerk/calendars/default.asp and check the monthly listings.

The agendas for each standing committee, as well as for Council, are required to be posted on the City’s website at least three days prior to the meetings. The agendas include detailed reports from City staff, and these reports are a good source of information about what is taking place in the City. You can read these agendas and reports by going to the City’s website at http://www.hamilton.ca/clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/default.asp and following the links. You need Acrobat Reader (free download) to do this.

Prior to 2004, the Council had only two standing committees, both composed of all the councillors. One was called the Committee of the Whole (COW) and the other was called the Hearings Sub-Committee. The agendas, reports and minutes of these committees can be found on the City’s website at http://www.hamilton.ca/clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/archives/default.asp This is the first place to start in looking for background and history of issues coming before Council.

Prior to 2001, Hamilton municipal government was more complex. It was divided between a Regional government and six separate city or town governments. Each had a structure similar to the 2004 structure of the new City. Access to the documents of these governments is more challenging. The Regional ones as well as those from the old City of Hamilton should be available in hard copies in the Special Collections division of the Hamilton Central Library.